110“If the Paymaster,” observed Wiley, “was the only mine in the world, I’d make you a proposition in a minute. But a man in my position doesn’t have to buy his mines, and I never work anything on shares.”
“Well, now Wiley, I’ve got another proposition, which you may or may not approve; but there’s no harm, I hope, if I mention it. You know there’s been a difference between me and your father since–well, since the Paymaster shut down. I respect him very much and have nothing but the kindliest feelings towards him but he–well, you know how it is. But I have been informed, Wiley, that since Colonel Huff’s death, your father has been bidding for his stock. In fact, I have seen a letter written to Mrs. Huff in which he offers her ten cents a share. Now, of course, if you want to gain control of the company, I’m willing to do what’s right; and so, after thinking it over, I have come to the conclusion that I will accept that offer now.”
“Umm,” responded Wiley, squinting his eyes down shrewdly, “how much would that come to, in all?”
“Well, twenty-one thousand, eight hundred dollars, for what I received from Mrs. Huff; but of course–well, he’d have to buy a little more of me in order to get positive control.”
“How much more?” asked Wiley, but Blount’s crooked mouth pulled down in a crafty smile.
“We can discuss that later,” he suggested mildly. “Do you think he will buy the stock?”
111“Not if he takes my advice,” answered Wiley coldly. “I can buy the whole block for eight hundred.”
“How?”
“Why, by loaning Mrs. Huff the eight hundred dollars with which to take up her note.”
“I doubt it,” replied Blount, and his mild, deceiving eyes took on the faintest shadow of a threat. “Mrs. Huff has defaulted on her first month’s interest and, according to the terms of her note, the collateral automatically passes to me.”